REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN January 15, 2007

A TERRIFYING invasion of dangerous marine predators closed Gold Coast beaches, while emergency services treated hundreds of victims.

More than 860 people from Southport to Coolangatta were stung by Portuguese man o’ wars, also known as bluebottles.

Eight children were rushed to hospital after suffering serious allergic reactions and shock.

The bluebottles wreaked havoc along the Coast after being blown into shore in their thousands by northerly winds.

Lifesavers closed Burleigh beach after several stingrays were sighted and a surf carnival at North Burleigh was postponed because of shark sightings.

The Summer Surf Series was stopped for about 10 minutes when competitors thought they had spotted a shark.

Competitors and other swimmers were ordered from the water amid what witnesses described as chaotic scenes. A rubber duckie was sent out to scare away the shark and the competition later resumed.

While the stingrays did not hurt anyone on the Gold Coast, one stung a 38-year-old man on his right big toe on Bribie Island.

Surfers Paradise beach also was closed temporarily yesterday afternoon after reports of two ‘sharks’ cruising behind swimmers.

Sweeps of the beach by surf lifesavers established the ‘sharks’ were dolphins and the beach was quickly reopened.

Patrol captain at Surfers Paradise beach Peter Anderson said it had been a nightmare weekend with regular visits from ambulance officers.

“It’s been like this since Saturday,” he said.